Research Question: What is standardized testing's effect on teachers/in the classroom? Author: Alexis Lavallee
1. Chomsky, N. c., & Robichaud, A. a. (2014). Standardized Testing as an Assault on Humanism and Critical Thinking in Education. Radical Pedagogy, 11(1), 3.
This article briefly discusses the historical context of standardized testing and its role in the classroom today. The author argues that standardized testing is detrimental to education as it trumps both student and teacher creativity. It further discusses the idea of "teaching to the test" and the harm this practice has in the classroom. It then discusses certain education policies such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top, as well as it's role in teaching to the test. I found this article both factual and similar to my opinion on standardized testing. The author is clearly biased as he expresses his displeasure with the implementation of standardized testing and its effect on education. Although he took this standpoint, he still presented factual information.
2. Jost, K. (2001, April 20). Testing in schools. CQ Researcher, 11, 321-344. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://library.cqpress.com/
This article found in CQ researcher provides a wide array of information on standardized testing. It discusses the rise of standardized testing, various education policies, the ever rising standards and need for accountability, and the teach to the test concept. It includes a timeline of standardized testing related events, as well as opinion pieces both for and against standardized testing. This particular article helped give me a lot of background information on standardized testing in general. I learned a lot more about how it originated, and how different policies such as NCLB have affected it. I also was presented with a variety opinions of testing's role in the classroom and whether or not "teaching to the test" is a good thing.
This is a survey conducted by the National Education Association (NEA). It's purpose was to gather the opinions of teachers on a variety of topics such as pressure to improve student test scores, the impact of testing in the classroom, and how it personally affects their feelings towards their job. Overall, teachers had very negative opinions on standardized testing. The majority of teachers surveys found that it had a negative impact in the classroom and wasted precious instruction time due to test prep. The survey also found that a large percentage of teachers feel an immense amount of pressure for accountability, while another large percentage considered leaving the profession due to the emphasis on standardized testing. I enjoyed reading a survey solely based on teachers opinions. They are the people experiencing the impact of testing in the classroom on a day to day basis. This helped me further understand testing's role in a classroom setting.
This article directly addresses the issue of teaching to the test. It first differentiates between item-teaching and curriculum-teaching, then discusses the consequences of teaching to the test. The rest of the article delves into what leads teachers to take up this practice, as well as ways to avoid it. It stresses the importance of teaching a wide body of information (curriculum) to the students instead of teaching specific items only found on the test. I found this article to be very informational about the dangers of teaching to the test. In the end, both the teachers and students are hurt by this practice.
This newspaper article addresses the issue of the overwhelming amount of standardized tests given to students in the US. It far withstands that of other countries who are even ahead of us in education. It also discusses standardized testing in relation to teacher accountability and the standards both students and teachers are held to. Teachers are pressured to teach to the test since they are held accountable for student performance. Schools compete for funds based on test scores, which inevitably falls on the shoulders of the teachers who must prepare them. I thought this article was a helpful resource by providing the actual numbers of tests given to students at various grades. I also like how it discussed the effect of testing not only on students, but teachers as well.
Overall Reaction to Your Research
I learned that teachers are under a lot of pressure for student achievement on standardized tests. Since schools compete for funds based on test scores, teachers are held to even higher standards to raise student performance. This leads to teaching to the test, with less time spent on the curriculum and other important skills such as critical thinking. This is detrimental to a student's education and has an overall negative impact in the classroom. Not only do teacher's feel an immense pressure, some even consider leaving the profession due to the growing emphasis on testing. Overall, I learned that standardized testing has a misplaced presence in the classroom and a negative effect on teachers.
How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
It is clear that there needs to be less emphasis placed on standardized testing in our schools. While they should be used as a form of measurement, they shouldn't be held to such high standards as they are. This leads to pressure placed on teachers to teach to the test which is harmful to student learning. Making less mandated statewide tests would take some of the pressure off both the students and teachers, and leave more class time to focus on the broader curriculum.
Author: Alexis Lavallee
1. Chomsky, N. c., & Robichaud, A. a. (2014). Standardized Testing as an Assault on Humanism and Critical Thinking in Education. Radical Pedagogy, 11(1), 3.
This article briefly discusses the historical context of standardized testing and its role in the classroom today. The author argues that standardized testing is detrimental to education as it trumps both student and teacher creativity. It further discusses the idea of "teaching to the test" and the harm this practice has in the classroom. It then discusses certain education policies such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top, as well as it's role in teaching to the test. I found this article both factual and similar to my opinion on standardized testing. The author is clearly biased as he expresses his displeasure with the implementation of standardized testing and its effect on education. Although he took this standpoint, he still presented factual information.
2. Jost, K. (2001, April 20). Testing in schools. CQ Researcher, 11, 321-344. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://library.cqpress.com/
This article found in CQ researcher provides a wide array of information on standardized testing. It discusses the rise of standardized testing, various education policies, the ever rising standards and need for accountability, and the teach to the test concept. It includes a timeline of standardized testing related events, as well as opinion pieces both for and against standardized testing. This particular article helped give me a lot of background information on standardized testing in general. I learned a lot more about how it originated, and how different policies such as NCLB have affected it. I also was presented with a variety opinions of testing's role in the classroom and whether or not "teaching to the test" is a good thing.
3. Walker, T. (2014, November 2). NEA Survey: Nearly Half Of Teachers Consider Leaving Profession Due to Standardized Testing - NEA Today. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://neatoday.org/2014/11/02/nea-survey-nearly-half-of-teachers-consider-leaving-profession-due-to-standardized-testing-2/
This is a survey conducted by the National Education Association (NEA). It's purpose was to gather the opinions of teachers on a variety of topics such as pressure to improve student test scores, the impact of testing in the classroom, and how it personally affects their feelings towards their job. Overall, teachers had very negative opinions on standardized testing. The majority of teachers surveys found that it had a negative impact in the classroom and wasted precious instruction time due to test prep. The survey also found that a large percentage of teachers feel an immense amount of pressure for accountability, while another large percentage considered leaving the profession due to the emphasis on standardized testing. I enjoyed reading a survey solely based on teachers opinions. They are the people experiencing the impact of testing in the classroom on a day to day basis. This helped me further understand testing's role in a classroom setting.
4. Popham, J. (2001, March 1). Teaching to the Test? Retrieved November 25, 2015, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar01/vol58/num06/Teaching-to-the-Testยข.aspx
This article directly addresses the issue of teaching to the test. It first differentiates between item-teaching and curriculum-teaching, then discusses the consequences of teaching to the test. The rest of the article delves into what leads teachers to take up this practice, as well as ways to avoid it. It stresses the importance of teaching a wide body of information (curriculum) to the students instead of teaching specific items only found on the test. I found this article to be very informational about the dangers of teaching to the test. In the end, both the teachers and students are hurt by this practice.
5. Layton, L. (2015, October 24). Study says standardized testing is overwhelming nation's public schools. Retrieved November 25, 2015, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/study-says-standardized-testing-is-overwhelming-nations-public-schools/2015/10/24/8a22092c-79ae-11e5-a958-d889faf561dc_story.html
This newspaper article addresses the issue of the overwhelming amount of standardized tests given to students in the US. It far withstands that of other countries who are even ahead of us in education. It also discusses standardized testing in relation to teacher accountability and the standards both students and teachers are held to. Teachers are pressured to teach to the test since they are held accountable for student performance. Schools compete for funds based on test scores, which inevitably falls on the shoulders of the teachers who must prepare them. I thought this article was a helpful resource by providing the actual numbers of tests given to students at various grades. I also like how it discussed the effect of testing not only on students, but teachers as well.
Overall Reaction to Your Research
I learned that teachers are under a lot of pressure for student achievement on standardized tests. Since schools compete for funds based on test scores, teachers are held to even higher standards to raise student performance. This leads to teaching to the test, with less time spent on the curriculum and other important skills such as critical thinking. This is detrimental to a student's education and has an overall negative impact in the classroom. Not only do teacher's feel an immense pressure, some even consider leaving the profession due to the growing emphasis on testing. Overall, I learned that standardized testing has a misplaced presence in the classroom and a negative effect on teachers.How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
It is clear that there needs to be less emphasis placed on standardized testing in our schools. While they should be used as a form of measurement, they shouldn't be held to such high standards as they are. This leads to pressure placed on teachers to teach to the test which is harmful to student learning. Making less mandated statewide tests would take some of the pressure off both the students and teachers, and leave more class time to focus on the broader curriculum.